MADRID — Espanyol needed a second-half goal against second-division club Cadiz to avoid becoming the first top-tier team to be eliminated in the Copa del Rey this season.
Hernan Perez scored the winner with a shot from inside the area in the 76th minute on Tuesday, giving Espanyol a 1-0 victory and a spot in the competition’s round of 16.
The hosts advanced on away goals following a 2-1 first-leg loss in Cadiz last month.
Cadiz came close to pulling off an upset when Karim Azamoum scored in stoppage time at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Cadiz upset first-division club Real Betis at this stage last season before being eliminated by Sevilla in the following round.
Perez entered the match three minutes before scoring the winning goal for Espanyol, which was coming off three straight losses in the Spanish league.
The Catalan club made it to the quarterfinals last season, when it lost to eventual champion Barcelona.
VALENCIA ADVANCES
With a winner by Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, Valencia defeated third-division club Ebro 1-0 to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
Batshuayi scored with a close-range header after a well-placed cross by Toni Lato in the 59th minute at Mestalla Stadium.
It was the third goal for Batshuayi since joining Valencia on a loan from Chelsea in the summer.
Valencia was coming off losses to Juventus in the Champions League and Real Madrid in the Spanish league. It had won three straight before that.
TOP-TIER CLASH
In a match between first-division clubs, Leganes defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Leganes goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, playing on a loan from Real Madrid, saved a first-half penalty kick taken by Bebe with the hosts already down a goal.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper made several other key saves during the rest of the match to keep his team ahead at Vallecas Stadium in Madrid.
It was the third straight win for Leganes, which remains unbeaten in six consecutive matches in all competitions.
Rayo Vallecano had ended an 11-match winless streak with a victory over Eibar in the Spanish league last weekend.
GETAFE CRUISES
Angel Rodriguez scored a hat trick as Getafe trounced second-tier club Cordoba 5-1 to reached the next round 7-2 on aggregate.
Robert Ibanez and Francisco Portillo also found the net for Getafe, which was coming off a 3-0 rout of Espanyol in the Spanish league.
Aythami Artiles scored Cordoba’s goal midway through the second half, with his team down 3-0.
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